2013's Most Innovative Car is the Tesla Model S

With its huge battery under the floor and its motor packaged between the rear wheels, the Model S by Elon Musk's Tesla Motors isn't built quite like any other car. But when the end result is an EV that goes 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds, experimentation is a very good thing.

Tesla Model S - Techical Innovation

Tesla Model S - Techical Innovation

Base Price: $49,900 (after rebate)

How would you build a modern car if you didn't have to make space for an engine? That question is still a thought experiment for most of the auto industry, but California-based startup Tesla Motors has actually done it with the new Model S. With its motor packaged neatly between the rear wheels and its massive battery mounted under the vehicle floor, the Model S has lots of free space available under the hood, in the rear of the vehicle, and in the cabin for storage, legroom, and two extra passengers. Tesla has also reimagined the traditional center console as one enormous, reconfigurable 17-inch touchscreen. And if all that doesn't impress you, consider this: In its top-of-the-line Performance variant, the Model S does 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds—that's BMW M5 territory.